explainers,
Aside from rare mass bikie gang incursions from interstate, ACT police have never before had to set up at the territory’s borders and check the bona fides of arriving travellers by road. So last weekend’s introduction of COVID-19 border restrictions to fend off the entry of infected visitors from the “red zones” of Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong areas caught many unawares, and had police scrambling to devise a workable checkpoint operational model. The ACT border checkpoints, which under direction of ACT Health, will remain in place for at least another week, have been described by police as “not dissimilar to random breath testing stations”. They are “scaleable” and unpredictable across the main arterial roads into the territory, adopting the random breath testing mantra of “anytime, anywhere”. ACT residents who have been in the affected areas, especially the northern beaches of Sydney, will be required to file their travel plans via the online portal, provide their details and be prepared to isolate and quarantine in the ACT for 14 days. Anyone travelling from the affected NSW areas into the ACT will be not be permitted to enter and will be turned around by police. The border checkpoints have raised a number of queries. Here’s some of the latest posed by our readers: Why aren’t there restrictions on people coming from Victoria via the airport, or driving around with Vic plates? Or Queenslanders who may have driven through Sydney on the way and stopped? Police in the ACT are acting under the guidance from health authorities. Under current health directions, Victorian residents and people travelling from Victoria can travel to the ACT, but only if you haven’t been in a COVID-affected area in the last 14 days. For example, if you were in a public location identified by the Victorian government as having had a confirmed COVID-19 case and are now in the ACT, you may need to get tested. If you are transiting through other states or territories to reach the ACT, you must check the advice from that state or territory. If you have been through the affected areas and are stopped by ACT police, your origins and previous movements will be questioned. I live in the local region and drive into the ACT every morning for work. What restrictions apply to me? Local government areas close to the ACT such as Queanbeyan-Palerang, Wingecarribee, Shoalhaven, Goulburn Mulwaree, Eurobodalla and Yass Valley LGAs are not currently included on the list of affected areas. However, people travelling into Canberra from these areas using the northern arterial roads and highways should expect possible delays due to border checkpoints, and this delay should be included in potential travel plans. Do police only work the border [checkpoint] from 9-5? Not one police car was on the Federal Highway at 7pm on Sunday night as everyone drove straight through. ACT police are adopting a “random breath testing” style operational model to their border checkpoints. They are not checking vehicles and drivers 24/7. However, over 11,000 vehicles have been stopped by ACT police since the checks began over the weekend. I am just asking if we would need a border pass or similar if travelling from Wagga to Canberra Airport and are there lengthy delays at the border check along this route? Travellers from Wagga Wagga into the ACT do not require a border pass, as they are travelling from an unaffected area. Police are adopting a flexible operational strategy for a border checkpoints, People travelling in should allow extra time in their travel schedule in case of possible delays at the checkpoints. Is there a checkpoint in Kings Highway for those that want to go to South Coast for a day trip? If yes, should I expect delays upon crossing back to ACT? Police have indicated that they will be checking various entry points into the ACT, and will even be randomly checking those vehicles already inside the ACT with interstate plates at popular tourism areas in Barton and elsewhere. Day trips for ACT residents to the South Coast are permitted but there always exists the potential for a border checkpoint on returning to the ACT. Can people travel through the ACT from Greater Sydney or other COVID-affected areas without stopping? Police originally advised these travellers not to enter the ACT, or to use NSW only routes. This advice has now been revised to allow transit through the ACT by the most direct route possible. The advice also says: “While you are transiting through the ACT, you must not exit the vehicle or go through a drive-through”. I’m from the ACT and returning from Greater Sydney. How soon before travelling do I need to fill out the online form? At least 24 hours before your intended travel time. From what date do quarantine restrictions apply to ACT residents returning home from affected areas? It applies to anyone who has been in the Northern Beaches local government area (LGA) in the past 14 days, and to anyone who has been in the remaining LGAs in Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong since 21 December 2020. What about all of those Sydneysiders holidaying on the NSW South Coast who have been heard to brag about escaping from Sydney? Police are urging anyone with information about suspected breaches of health guidelines to contact the COVID-19 reporting hotline in their jurisdiction, or by phoning Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Not following Public Health Directions is a criminal offence and penalties apply. In the ACT, that penalty is up to $8000. What if I’m an ACT resident returning to the ACT via bus or train from an affected area? Do the same conditions apply? Are police monitoring the buses and trains? Any returning ACT resident who has been in the Northern Beaches local government area (LGA) in the past 14 days, and anyone who has been in the remaining LGAs in Greater Sydney, Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong since 21 December 2020 must fill out the declaration and quarantine. Police receive the manifest of all inbound train travellers. What is the process of applying for an exemption for non-ACT residents? Non-ACT residents will need to apply for an exemption at least three days prior to their travel to the ACT but no more than 14 days before travelling. What sort of exemptions are required for non-ACT residents entering the ACT (and are not from the close NSW border regions)? Exemption will be considered in circumstances such as:
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Aside from rare mass bikie gang incursions from interstate, ACT police have never before had to set up at the territory’s borders and check the bona fides of arriving travellers by road.
So last weekend’s introduction of COVID-19 border restrictions to fend off the entry of infected visitors from the “red zones” of Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong areas caught many unawares, and had police scrambling to devise a workable checkpoint operational model.
The ACT border checkpoints, which under direction of ACT Health, will remain in place for at least another week, have been described by police as “not dissimilar to random breath testing stations”.
They are “scaleable” and unpredictable across the main arterial roads into the territory, adopting the random breath testing mantra of “anytime, anywhere”.
ACT residents who have been in the affected areas, especially the northern beaches of Sydney, will be required to file their travel plans via the online portal, provide their details and be prepared to isolate and quarantine in the ACT for 14 days.
Anyone travelling from the affected NSW areas into the ACT will be not be permitted to enter and will be turned around by police.
The border checkpoints have raised a number of queries. Here’s some of the latest posed by our readers:
Why aren’t there restrictions on people coming from Victoria via the airport, or driving around with Vic plates? Or Queenslanders who may have driven through Sydney on the way and stopped?
Police in the ACT are acting under the guidance from health authorities.
Under current health directions, Victorian residents and people travelling from Victoria can travel to the ACT, but only if you haven’t been in a COVID-affected area in the last 14 days.
If you are transiting through other states or territories to reach the ACT, you must check the advice from that state or territory. If you have been through the affected areas and are stopped by ACT police, your origins and previous movements will be questioned.
I live in the local region and drive into the ACT every morning for work. What restrictions apply to me?
Local government areas close to the ACT such as Queanbeyan-Palerang, Wingecarribee, Shoalhaven, Goulburn Mulwaree, Eurobodalla and Yass Valley LGAs are not currently included on the list of affected areas.
However, people travelling into Canberra from these areas using the northern arterial roads and highways should expect possible delays due to border checkpoints, and this delay should be included in potential travel plans.
Do police only work the border [checkpoint] from 9-5? Not one police car was on the Federal Highway at 7pm on Sunday night as everyone drove straight through.
ACT police are adopting a “random breath testing” style operational model to their border checkpoints. They are not checking vehicles and drivers 24/7.
However, over 11,000 vehicles have been stopped by ACT police since the checks began over the weekend.
I am just asking if we would need a border pass or similar if travelling from Wagga to Canberra Airport and are there lengthy delays at the border check along this route?
Travellers from Wagga Wagga into the ACT do not require a border pass, as they are travelling from an unaffected area.
Police are adopting a flexible operational strategy for a border checkpoints, People travelling in should allow extra time in their travel schedule in case of possible delays at the checkpoints.
Is there a checkpoint in Kings Highway for those that want to go to South Coast for a day trip? If yes, should I expect delays upon crossing back to ACT?
Police have indicated that they will be checking various entry points into the ACT, and will even be randomly checking those vehicles already inside the ACT with interstate plates at popular tourism areas in Barton and elsewhere.
Day trips for ACT residents to the South Coast are permitted but there always exists the potential for a border checkpoint on returning to the ACT.
Can people travel through the ACT from Greater Sydney or other COVID-affected areas without stopping?
Police originally advised these travellers not to enter the ACT, or to use NSW only routes.
This advice has now been revised to allow transit through the ACT by the most direct route possible.
The advice also says: “While you are transiting through the ACT, you must not exit the vehicle or go through a drive-through”.
I’m from the ACT and returning from Greater Sydney. How soon before travelling do I need to fill out the online form?
At least 24 hours before your intended travel time.
From what date do quarantine restrictions apply to ACT residents returning home from affected areas?
It applies to anyone who has been in the Northern Beaches local government area (LGA) in the past 14 days, and to anyone who has been in the remaining LGAs in Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong since 21 December 2020.
What about all of those Sydneysiders holidaying on the NSW South Coast who have been heard to brag about escaping from Sydney?
Police are urging anyone with information about suspected breaches of health guidelines to contact the COVID-19 reporting hotline in their jurisdiction, or by phoning Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Not following Public Health Directions is a criminal offence and penalties apply. In the ACT, that penalty is up to $8000.
What if I’m an ACT resident returning to the ACT via bus or train from an affected area? Do the same conditions apply? Are police monitoring the buses and trains?
Any returning ACT resident who has been in the Northern Beaches local government area (LGA) in the past 14 days, and anyone who has been in the remaining LGAs in Greater Sydney, Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong since 21 December 2020 must fill out the declaration and quarantine.
Police receive the manifest of all inbound train travellers.
What is the process of applying for an exemption for non-ACT residents?
Non-ACT residents will need to apply for an exemption at least three days prior to their travel to the ACT but no more than 14 days before travelling.
What sort of exemptions are required for non-ACT residents entering the ACT (and are not from the close NSW border regions)?
Exemption will be considered in circumstances such as:
- Law enforcement or emergency purposes
- Urgent medical treatment
- Essential workers, who meet certain criteria
- Highly exceptional compassionate circumstances
- Moving permanently to the ACT
